| OVERVIEW |
| Background |
Bangladesh
came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded
from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely
poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season,
hampering economic development. |
| Natural
resources |
natural gas, arable land,
timber, coal |
| Land
use |
arable land: 60.7%
permanent crops: 2.61%
other: 36.69% (1998 est.) |
| Population |
138,448,210 (July 2003
est.) |
| Ethnic
groups |
Bengali 98%, tribal groups,
non-Bengali Muslims (1998) |
| Religions |
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%,
other 1% (1998) |
| Languages |
Bangla (official, also
known as Bengali), English |
| Literacy |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.) |
| Capital |
Dhaka |
| Government
type |
parliamentary democracy
|
| Independence |
16 December 1971 (from
West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence
from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day
and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
|
| National
holiday |
Independence Day, 26 March
(1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from
West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates
the official creation of the state of Bangladesh |
